Avoiding The Icebergs Of Life
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles
The story is told of a company that hired a consultant in order to improve efficiency within the workforce. The consultant scheduled a meeting of all shop personnel. Stressing the need to listen to expert advice, he said, “Imagine you’re on the Titanic, and it’s sinking. You get into a lifeboat. The ship’s navigator goes along with you. Which way would you go? Wouldn’t you more than likely row in the direction the navigator told you to row?”
There were several murmurs of agreement until one fellow in the back of the room spoke up and said, “Well, I don’t know if that would be such a good idea — he’s already hit one iceberg!”
The book of Proverbs urges us to get advice from the wise (Proverbs 1:2-7). Bible wisdom is defined as the “skill for living” (Proverbs 1:2).
It’s interesting to note that the Hebrew word translated “wisdom” [Chokmah – Strong‘s 2451] is the same word that’s translated “skill” in reference to the detailed work of Bezalel and Aholiab in the construction of the tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-11). God gave them and some other folks “skill” for artwork, building, weaving, and carving (Exodus 31:1-5).
Today, wise men and women have a valuable skill, i.e., ”the skill for living.” The wise thing to do, is not to take our lead from others until we take a good long look at their lives. If they’ve crashed into a lot of icebergs, they may cause our life to sink as well (cf. Matthew 15:14; Luke 6:39).
Let’s avoid the icebergs of life, by noting that the “blessed” or wise person delights in, and receives the wisdom found in God’s Word — “not in the counsel of the ungodly” (Psalm 1:1-2).